Ahead of his AEW World Championship match at today’s All Out pay-per-view, TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher appeared on “Busted Open Radio” with Dave LaGreca and Nic Nemeth to discuss the opportunity. Fletcher spoke about his rapid career progression, his development as a performer, and his mindset heading into the biggest match of his career against “Hangman” Adam Page.
On the World Title Opportunity
When asked about the significance of challenging for the AEW World Championship, Fletcher described the moment as the culmination of a lifelong dream. He recounted touching the title belt for the first time during the go-home episode of Dynamite.
“It’s surreal, honestly,” Fletcher said. “Anyone that grows up dreaming of being a pro wrestler thinks about that big first world title win… to not only be in that position, but last night to touch with my own hands for the first time, the AEW world title. It felt very surreal. Felt like a very long time coming… But I’ve always had this feeling this is where I’m meant to be.” He added that he views this match as a pivotal moment to elevate his status within the company. “I think this is the one that really puts me in that main event, top guy spot… I think it goes a long way in cementing me as a top guy in AEW, and hopefully as a main event level guy… Nobody can deny that I belong there.”
Character and Promo Development
Fletcher also reflected on his character change, which began with him shaving his head at WrestleDream in October 2024. He noted it was a “cool way to symbolize that change” and introduce his new persona. He identified his promo ability as the area he is most focused on improving.
“It still comes back to promos,” he stated. “Being an independent wrestler, wrestling for New Japan, you never really get that chance… I haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to do that. I think the first time I ever had a live microphone was in the feud with Will Ospreay… I think now I’m starting to find my feet in this Hangman story.” Fletcher expressed pride in the recent contract signing segment, saying, “Last night was probably the best and most comfortable I felt out there on the mic.” His goal going forward is to continue honing that skill. “I want a microphone in my hand every week. I want to get comfortable when I’m out there… and really hammer home that character work.”
Learning from Don Callis and Other Influences
While Fletcher is focused on carving his own path, he spoke about learning from his manager, Don Callis, particularly when it comes to delivering promos.
“The biggest thing that I’ve learned from him… is with his promos and the heat that he gets, he doesn’t plan a single thing that he’s gonna say,” Fletcher explained. “He goes out there, and he is so present… he is purely riffing it and just reacting to what’s happening. And I think that’s something that I really am striving to also get comfortable with.” He also shared a key piece of advice from Callis: “The other thing that he says is with promos, ‘nothing you can say is better than the heat you’re going to get,’ which is something that’s really stuck with me.” Fletcher also named John Cena and The Miz as two performers whose microphone work he strives to emulate.
Adjusting to the Spotlight
At 26 years old, Fletcher admitted he is still getting used to his role as a featured star on weekly national television. He described how he handles the pressure that comes with his position in AEW.
“I still am [adjusting], and I think I probably still will be for a while,” Fletcher said. “This whole lifestyle is very new to me. I’ve only been with AEW for two years full time… Everything’s happened very quickly. I just try and remind myself that this is where I’ve wanted to be my entire life… I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, trying to think about one segment at a time, one match at a time, trying not to get too big picture of it all.”
Post-Match Plans
Should he win the AEW World Championship, Fletcher already has his celebration planned. After adhering to a strict, zero-carb diet for the week leading up to the pay-per-view, his first stop will be his snack bag. “The first thing I will do is straight back to the locker room and shove them down my throat,” he said, listing donuts and Sour Patch Kids as his go-to treats, followed by pizza back at the hotel.
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